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Inspirational Story

Blanca Castillo Dinglasan:
An incredible living legend

HER most recent recital was at the CCP Little Theater on September 05, 1995 - five years ago.Her next will be September 29, 2000 at 7:30 p.m.at the newly renovated St. Cecilia's Hall, St. Scholastica's College.

So, then, jokingly, people are saying, "Her next concert will be when she gets to be 100". To which she laughingly replies, "I might then be playing the piano from a wheelchair."

With Raul Sunico assisting her, she will be playing tonight, the first movement of the Grieg Concerto, which she played in its entirety in her graduation concert at St. Scholastica's College as music teacher on February 25, 1928 - 72 years ago; McDowell's Woodland Sketches, Debussy, Beethoven… a varied program, and all played by heart - sans scores, without scores or sheets in front of her. "It distracts a pianist to play with a score" she explains. "It is distracting to have alternately looking at the sheets and at the keys. All these pieces I learnt under Rev. Sr. Battig, O.S.B." she says proudly.

She mentions with affection and pride that her granddaughter Bianca (Pompoy's daughter) will be singing with three other songs arranged specially for the occasion by her great admirer, champion and friend, Raul.

Still erect and capable of reading fine print, her silvery hair lends her added singular distinction. And she still is very articulate and fluent - no slurring of her speech - in Spanish - the first language in her family - English, Tagalog, Ilonggo and Pangasinense or "Panggalatoc". And she can still whip up a gourmet's meal… indeed, she loves to cook, and relishes good food.

She is very much a family woman, on Sunday evenings she and her "family" (children and sobrinos)go together to attend Holy Mass, then go out for Sunday dinner.

The widowed Mrs. Dinglasan is, as the Spanish term goes, "muy cumplida" - faithful in the fulfillment of what she considered her "social duties." She yearly writes over 200 cards both at Christmas and at Easter, all with little personal notes. And mails them well in advance you receive them on time, poor local postal services notwithstanding…

Blessed with an extraordinary zest for living, generous to a fault, and, happily, materially well-off, she frequently hosts parties and meetings of the St. Scholastica's College Alumnae Association, of which she has been a past president, often doing the cooking herself, and she is an excellent cook.

After her graduation, she devoted her time to teaching.

But when her husband, Judge Rafael Dinglasan died in1982, she was so devastated and disconsolate that she did not touch the piano for six years.

She then took hold of herself, however, and in 1989,at 84, astounded friends with a full-length recital in a hall of the Metropolitan Theater (where and when she impressed Raul Sunico with her fine playing).

Followed in 1990, at the Puerta Real Gardens, aduo-performance with Dr. Sunico who had encouraged her to continue playing; and, subsequently her solo recital at the CCP Little Theatre on September 05, 1995.

"I shall be glad to play with that extraordinary fine pianist" Raul Sunico informed Zenas Reyes-Lozada when the latter called him in New York to invite him to be Mrs. Dinglasan's assisting artist for "Tita Blanquita at Puerta Real" in 1990.

We are happy that this gallant gentleman and dependable music-artist will again be assisting her this evening at St. Cecilia's Hall - in what may be the supreme, acid test in her long professional career: a full-length concert at age 95… a test she faces with cool and supreme self-confidence.

Summing up, we all can learn from this living legend how to grow old with grace, dignity and courage -that, borrowing a page from the life of this dynamic artiste, that the vitality of life comes from continuously challenging our minds, exercising our creative muscles even utilizing our physical faculties. That we should not face our sunset years with resignation and defeat, but rather, with feisty energy, gusto and guts. In the words of a late business tycoon "While alive, LIVE!"

And so this lady proves to us that age and experience is not a hindrance but an enhancement to our artistic endeavor. She gives credence to the phrase "the best is yet to come."

Further, she is a great example of a millennium woman, embracing the future with enthusiasm and optimism, as evidenced by her continuous generosity in sharing with the world her time and talents, whose formidable accomplishments delivered with such dash and verve could put to shame younger person who sometimes find just getting out of bed a challenge and an act of determination.